Sikkim Art And Culture These mask dances are stunning in Sikkim. Chaams are ceremonial and celebratory in nature. They came from a dancing sect that exorcised evil demons and adversaries. They differ in style and concept, yet all of them celebrate virtue over evil. During the new year ceremony, the Chaams are performed to banish evil and bring good luck. Cymbals and trumpets accompany the dancers, who wear frightening dragon, animal, and bird masks and magnificent brocaded robes.
Sikkim Art And Culture
Sikkim Art And Culture The gompa’s kangling, a trumpet-like instrument, announces Chaam. Upon entering the gompa, cymbals clash and ceremonial drums and gongs beat rhythmically as the radong, copper horns outside the gompa, echo these sounds. During the dance, incense carriers purify the air as colourful dancers enter the courtyard. As the drama unfolds, Mahakala conjures other protective deities, a central character in the drama. In Sha-Yak and Nam-Ding, the masquerade dances are adorned with animal masks and elaborate costumes. To the clash of percussion and trumpets, the dancers represent the destruction of apostasy with an effigy that is hacked up and scattered while masks of the stag, yak, tiger, lion, and mythical winged garuda walk slowly. As symbols of tantric unity in teaching, action, and wisdom, the scattered remains are an offering to the five Dhyani Buddhas.
The chaam origins narrative is intriguing. Tibetan ruler Ral-Pa-Che was a devout Buddhist in the 9th century. Many major scriptures and commentaries were translated into Tibetan. He also granted land to monasteries. His brother, Lang Darma, undermined Buddhism by praying backwards. He incited violence against the King, killing his brother Ral-Pa-Chen and taking the throne. As king, Lang Darma brutally eradicated Buddhism. Monasteries were destroyed, religious texts were burned, and lamas were persecuted by him.
Sikkim Art And Culture Devil Dancer, Lama Pal Dorjee hid a bow and arrow in his long sleeves when he killed this heretical king in his third year. The king summoned him after seeing him dance. When the disguised lama approached, he struck the king with his bow and arrow, killing him. A black pony flew the lama as the king’s guard chased him in the turmoil. He jumped into the Kyi-chu river and fled, fooling the pursuers and saving him. When he emerged on the other bank, he turned snow-white, fooling the pursuers and saving him. Chaams today embody the masked dance’s elements, such as the rooting out of heresy and the triumph of good, in a furious and spectacular scene.
Sikkim Art And Culture In Tibetan Buddhist dance, monastic clothing is fascinating and essential. It is a combination of brocade and satin with gold embroidery. The latter holds a thunderbolt sceptre called the dorje. From the head gear to the ankle, a waist-tucked Gyab-dar hangs. Since the robe resembles Lama Pal Dorje’s when he killed the evil monarch, it symbolizes Good triumphing over Evil.
In tantric meditation, thangkas are colourful cloth sacred scrolls that are hand-painted with images of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Taras, renowned saints, and Buddhist teachers. They are a great visual aid to meditation, calming the mind and focusing it. In addition to representing the Wheel of Life, Mandalas, and the Tashi Taggye, the eight auspicious Vajrayana signs, such as the lotus, conch shell, and Dharmachakra, colour is a powerful symbolism. While red and yellow symbolize fire and life, as well as corporeal and immaterial, emotional and intellectual, orange combines these and represents the deepest spirituality. With its passivity, blue symbolizes depth, purity, and infinity. Green symbolizes vegetables. Violet combines the active red and passive blue. At Lossar and Saga Dawa festivals, there are magnificent thangka procesions.
Sikkim boasts stunning river valleys and blue peaks. Sikkim has many tribes and races. Other than dancing, culture, and art, these tribes and groups are unique. The state has ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity.
Food of Sikkim
Sikkimese love eating and make the best north-east delicacies, including momo. Sikkim cuisine is largely noodles, thukpas, soups, and fermented foods due to its cold climate. Rice is its main food. Locals and tourists love momos, or wantons and dumplings. Visit Sikkim for its delicious chicken, pig, and beef momos. Here, steamed and boiled dishes are prevalent with minimal masalas and numerous native herbs and spices. Food always comes with local beer, rum, or whisky.
Sikkim Fairs & Festivals
Sikkim enthusiastically celebrates all major Indian holidays. Buddhist communities in Sikkim commemorate Losar, Loosong, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi, and Bhumchu. The state celebrates Losar, the Tibetan New Year in mid-December, by closing most government offices and tourism centres for a week.
Apart from biodiversity, Sikkim has rich culture and customs. The state celebrates various fairs and festivals with pomp and gaiety, following the Buddhist calendar. Traditional dress, colourful masks, and musical instruments accompany festival celebrations. Sikkim’s major festivals include:
Saga Dawa
Sikkimese Mahayana Buddhists celebrate Saga Dawa as a triple blessing. Monasteries pray and offer butter lamps on this day. Three days contain Saga Dawa. Buddha was born, enlightened, and died. On the Buddhist full moon, it is commemorated.
Phang Lhbsol
Phang Lhbsol is Sikkim’s signature festival. At this celebration, Mount Kangchenjunnga is worshipped for unification. A fiery red-faced guardian deity with a five-skull crown mounts a snow lion during this festivity. The event features monks doing pang-toed and warrior dances.
Bumchu
Tashiding monastery in West Sikkim hosts Bumchu, another Sikkim festival. ‘Bum’ means pot, ‘Chu’ water. Lamas open a pot of holy water today. Worshippers distribute water. Pot water dictates community fate.
Final harvest celebrations in rural Sikkim are called losoong. This Chaam dance honours good spirits destroying evil spirits. The festival has dance and archery contests.
Dasain
Nepalis in Sikkim celebrate Dasain. At this occasion, good spirits defeat evil. The family elder sprinkles Tika on the kids during the holiday.
Drupka Teshi
Sikkimese Buddhists honour Drupka Teshi. This event marks Buddha’s four noble truths discovery. Teshi Day honours Tibetan Drupka Teshi. The celebration includes yak races and prayers.
Hee Bermiok Tourism Festival
Hee Bermiok Tourism Festival
Hee Bermoik near Gangtok has an annual festival. The city’s beautiful funfair has drawn thousands of visitors since 2005. The festival is held in May yearly.
Rabongla craft fair
A quiet city at 7000 feet, Rabongla is one of Sikkim’s most scenic tourist sites. Big celebrations honour April festival.
Tarpu Monsoon Festival
The Sikkim Tharpu festival is held in August during the monsoon. Tharpu, western Sikkim is celebrating tradition.
Lhabab Duchen
In Sikkim, Lhabab Duchen is a major Buddhist celebration on the 22nd of the 9th Tibetan month.
Namchi Mahotsav
A bright week-long celebration is one of Sikkim’s biggest. Thousands of tourists and residents love this celebration.
Crafts of Sikkim
Art and craft in Sikkim vary. Most residents of the state are rural and have long made utility products. Woven woollen rugs, choksee tables, thankas, and canvas wall hangings depicting Sikkim’s diversity are popular handicrafts.
To promote cottage businesses, the state created the South District Institute of Cottage Enterprises. Selling local crafts benefits rural residents. The state’s crafts include bamboo, cane, and weaving. Handlooms and cottage businesses are popular in Gangtok, Namchi, and Melli. The state has promoted handlooms in numerous ways.